Event    From 1939  To 1945

World War 2

Categories: Armed Forces, Tragedy

Sorry, we've done no research on WW2, it's just too big a subject. But do visit the picture source web site - it has a fascinating collection of maps. And we enjoyed these photos of current WW2 evidence in London. Also for some signs of WW2 on buildings in London see Spitalfields Life.

February 2015: Londonist did something we’ve been meaning to do for ages: they’ve brought together all the various heads of state and governments-in-exile that found a home in London during WW2.  We’ve shamelessly taken that splendid research and linked it to the associated memorials that we’ve found.

The Free French wartime headquarters were at 1 Dorset Square and at Carlton Gardens where there are two  plaques and a statue.  De Gaulle lived in Hampstead.

The Netherlands’ head of state, Queen Wilhelmina, lived at Claridge’s and had her Secretariat at 77 Chester Square where there is a plaque.  The Dutch government initially met in the Dutch Reformed Church at 7 Austin Friars but this was destroyed by bombs in 1940 which may be what prompted them to move to Stratton House, 79 Piccadilly. And the Dutch club was at Oranjehaven.

The Polish Prime Minister Sikorski based himself in the Polish embassy at 47 Portland Place. The Polish President Raczkiewicz lived at 43 Eaton Place and ran his government in exile from here.

Belgium’s government-in-exile was based at the Belgian embassy at 105 Eaton Square.

The President of Czechoslovakia, Edvard Beneš, lived at 26 Gwendolen Avenue Putney.  The Czech government in exile was run from 3-8 Porchester Gate, Bayswater Road.

King Haakon of Norway officially lived at the Norwegian embassy at 10 Palace Green W8 where there is a plaque (not at 10 Kensington Palace Gardens) but often stayed at Claridges.  Prime Minister Nygaardsvold ran his government-in-exile from Kingston House North on Prince’s Gate.

King Peter II of Yugoslavia lived at Claridges.  His government in exile was run from Kingston House, the same address as the Norwegian government.

Luxembourg based its government in exile at 27 Wilton Crescent.

King George II of Greece lived at Claridges.

We believe these were also based in London but we need more information: Denmark’s government; King Zog of Albania; Emperor Haile Selassie of Abyssinia.

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This section lists the memorials where the subject on this page is commemorated:
World War 2

Commemorated ati

11 Group Operations Room

Unveiled by Lord Dowding.

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Abbey Road Depot - WW2 ARP members lost

Bill Wallis is described on the plaque as 'ARP Stretcher Bearer'. Which we ta...

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Abney Park - CWGC war memorial

The screen wall at the back, south, of the memorial carries a number of bronz...

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Adam Faith

Adam Faith (Terry Nelhams), 1940 - 2003, singer & actor born in a house o...

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African and Caribbean Armed Forces

Unveiled on Windrush Day. A very simple design, we think the horizontal obeli...

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Other Subjects

Harry Daniels, VC

Harry Daniels, VC

Awarded the VC for his heroism on 12 March 1915, age 30, while serving in the Rifle Brigade (The Prince Consort’s Own). "When the battalion advance was halted by wire, he rushed forward and under h...

Person, Armed Forces

War served, WW1
1 memorial
23rd Battalion

23rd Battalion

London unit which served in WW1.

Group, Armed Forces

1 memorial
E. Ward

E. Ward

R.E. Railway Divn.. Fought but did not die in WW1

Person, Armed Forces

War served, WW1
1 memorial
Private John Lewis Lidstone

Private John Lewis Lidstone

Very little is known about John Lewis Lidstone. We know from the Commonwealth War Graves Commission's website that his parents were James and Maria Lidstone In the 1911 census he is shown as John ...

Person, Armed Forces, France

War dead, WW1
1 memorial
R. J. Holben

R. J. Holben

J. Lyons & Co. Ltd. staff member who died in WW2.

Person, Armed Forces

War dead, WW2
1 memorial

Previously viewed

Christ's Hospital

Christ's Hospital

Founded by Edward VI in the remains of Greyfriars Monastery for the education of poor children. The first pupils arrived in November 1552. In 1682 Sir Robert Clayton erected much of the building, d...

Group, Education, Social Welfare

8 memorials
Midland Bank

Midland Bank

Founded as the Birmingham and Midland Bank in Birmingham. Expanded to become the London City and Midland Bank in 1891, and Midland Bank Ltd in 1923. In 1992, it was taken over by HSBC who had phase...

Group, Commerce

3 memorials
London Irish Centre

London Irish Centre

The charity provides care, culture and community to the Irish across London, working from the iconic London Irish Centre in Camden Town.

Group, Community / Clubs, Social Welfare, Ireland

1 memorial
Wimpole Street Post Office

Wimpole Street Post Office

This was at the southern end of Wimpole Street, on the east side.  The Royal Society of Medicine website tells us: "Once again 1 Wimpole Street was given a major refurbishment between 1982 – 86 ......

Building, Commerce, Property

1 memorial
Winston Churchill

Winston Churchill

Prime Minister 1940 - 45 and 1951 - 55. Born Blenheim Palace, near Woodstock, Oxford, into an aristocratic family. His father was the son of the Duke of Marlborough, and his mother was born in Broo...

Person, Politics & Administration, Race Issues, Seriously Famous

30 memorials